Arrests Amid 'Royal Wedding Disruption Plots'

Sky's crime correspondent Martin Brunt said Scotland Yard had stressed there was no specific terror threat.

But sources say officers are concerned about activities by anarchist groups ahead of the big day and carried out pre-emptive raids on squats in London this morning, in which 20 were arrested.

Sky sources said a separate operation saw three more arrested tonight in Brockley, southeast London, and a large guillotine seized. It is thought protesters were planning to use it to slice heads off effigies.

Seven arrests were also made at squats in Hove, East Sussex, earlier today, and a man is being held in Cambridgeshire on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.

Police are clamping down on anyone who may be suspected of planning trouble.

A group called Reclaim The Royal Wedding, which is encouraging followers to take part in some form of protest near Westminster Abbey on Friday, is also causing concern.

Police had been expected to carry out a number of arrests ahead of the big day, which will be watched by a global TV audience of two billion and is expected be the most expensive and high-profile security operation in a generation for Scotland Yard.

Officers swooped on properties in the Hackney, Camberwell and Heathrow areas of London at dawn as part of investigations into disturbances at the student protests last year and recent TUC march, police sources said.

Scotland Yard came under fire in the Commons over the London raids, when Labour backbencher John McDonnell described them as "some form of pre-emptive strike before the Royal Wedding".

He said: "I believe this disproportionate use of force is unacceptable and I would urge that a minister comes to this House from the Home Office to explain what is exactly happening today, what are the grounds for that action and also to contact the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to explain that many of us feel that this is disproportionate and no way to celebrate this joyous wedding."

Joe Rake, 20, a Transition Heathrow campaigner who lives at one of the raided squats in Sipson, said he woke up to 40 officers at the property at dawn.

"They asked us if we had been involved in the TUC protests," he said.

"It seems obvious to us that they thought we were going to do something at the wedding tomorrow."

Raids also took place in Camberwell Road, south London, and Lower Clapton Road, east
London.

More than 5,000 officers will make up a multimillion-pound ring of steel tomorrow - including snipers on rooftops and undercover officers mingling among the crowds.

Around 70 people are now banned from the City of Westminster as part of their bail conditions after being arrested or charged over various previous alleged disorder offences.

No intelligence has suggested police need to use anti-terror powers as hundreds of thousands arrive in the capital for the event.

Police have been scouring London for explosives and hidden weapons in recent days, inspecting drains, lamp-posts and traffic lights in Westminster.

In total, three protest groups declared intentions to cause disruption but Muslims Against Crusades announced yesterday they had abandoned plans amid fears that they could become a target.

The English Defence League is now thought unlikely to be planning any action.